The Wilmer Eye Institute is one of the world leaders in vision research. Its research programs range from basic/fundamental studies on the mechanisms of eye development and vision, to studies of the genetics and pathogenesis of eye disease, to transitional studies, to clinical trials, to epidemiological and international Studies f the worldwide causes of vision loss and disability. Wilmer has been fortunate to have been funded through an NEI Core Grant for Vision Research for over thirty-five years, and this funding has provided the infrastructure and core support for a wide variety of these studies. The support that the Core grant has provided has been a tremendous aid in facilitating Wilmer's diverse research programs and it has also encouraged a number of collaborative research projects. In this competitive renewal application, we are seeking support to continue these essential infrastructure and core activities. We are proposing both continuation of past services, but also modifying and re-directing some cores so as to better adapt to changing research needs, technologies, and priorities. The modules for which funding is requested are cores for Imaging and Microscopy, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Animal Modeling, and a new module on Drug Delivery and Nanotechnology. We feel that this new module structure, together with a rigorous administration support structure, will best serve and facilitate the diverse vision research activities at Wilmer and throughout Hopkins.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research plan is designed to support and facilitate the success and productivity of the many and diverse vision research programs at The Wilmer Eye Institute and throughout the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and also to encourage collaborative, innovative, and multi-disciplinary research studies.